Island



Mar. 6, 1923.

M. C. MILLER.

NEEDLE CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

' FILED .IAN.8, 1919. I

f/wai ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 6, 1923.

UNITED STATES Llamas PATENT OFFlCE.

MAX G. MILLER, 01? CUMBERLAND HILL, RIIUIDE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 JENCKES KNITTING MACHINE COMPANY, 015 PAVJTUCKET, EI'IODE ISLAND, A. CORPOR A- TION O11 li-HODE ISLAND.

NEEDLE-CONTROLLING IVZECHANESIE FOR KNITTING IMACHINES.

Application filed January 8, 1919.

To all to 7: 0m it may concern Be it known that 1, MAX citizen 01' Germany, residing at Cumberland Hill, in the county of Cumberland and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful lmprovci its in Needle-Controlling ll lechanisni for knitting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enabl others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to needle controlling mechanism for knitting machines.

One of the features of the invention c011- templates the provision of means for pressing forward at the yarn feeding point the heel: ends of a series of needles distributed among the entire knitting series of needles to divide the needles into two sets or series, one of which is in and the other of which is out of yarn taking relation to the yarn feeding means, so that yarn. is t d to but one set of needles by the co-opereting yarn feed.

Another feature, which may be utilized with. or without the feature outlined above, contemplates controlling the action of some or all of the needles of a needle series by a series of needle deflectors arranged to act on the backs of the needles, and successively advanced to press or bend forward the corresponding needles by actuating means such for instance as a cam, which may be thrown into and out oi action during the knitting, and which acts progressively along a series of deflectors by reason of the relative travel between the actuating means and deflectors By throwing the actuating means for the needle deflectors into and out of action, the operation of the needles may be varied at different points in the knitting, in accenance with the results which it may be desired to obtain.

Another feature of the invention, w llCll may be utilized with or without either or both of the features outlined above, contemplates the provision of a plurality of series of needle deflectors for acting on and pressing forward different series of needles distributed among the entire series. lileans is preferably provided for selectively actuating the different series of needle deflectors, and this means preferably consists of a series of actuators, each of which acts on a different series of deflectors, which are so controlled that any series or combination of series of needle deflectors may be actuated during any desired part of the knitting.

A construction embodying all the features of the invention is shown in the d 'awings, in which Figure l is a plan view of so much of the knitting head of a circular machine as is necessary to show the application of the invention thereto, the parts above the upper end of the needle cylinder being removed; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View through the head on line 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail plan view indicating the feed of the yarn to the needles; and Fig. l is a detail elevation looking toward the left in Fig. 2.

In the drawings the invention is shown as applied to a circular latch needle machine oi the type used "for knitting seamless hosiery. As shown, the needle cylinder 1 of the machine is provided at its lower end with a gear 2, through which rotary and reciprocatory motion may be transmitted to the cylinder. The cylinder is provided with the usual vertical grooves in which the latch needles 3 are mounted. The knitting wave in the needles is formed by the usual knitting cams which are indicated generally at d, and the machine is provided with the usual cams and pickers for actuating the needles to knit seamless hosiery. The machine is also provided with a latch ring 5 having a feeding threat 6 through which the yarns may be fed to the needles by a series of yarn changer guides, one of which is indicated at 7. A yarn guide, indicated at 8, may be provided for properly feeding the body yarn to the needles through a guideway 9 in the throat when doing plated worlt.

In the machine shown, all the features of the invention are embodied in a mechanism for pressing forward certain selected needles they pass the yarn feeding point of the knitting wave, so that yarn is led to some of the needles and not to others by the yarn feeding guide or guides 7. The means for pressing forward the needles comprises one or more series of needle deflectors, preferably in the form of sliding pins 10, which are arranged to act on the backs of a series of needles distributed among the entire series of needles. In the construction shown there are seven series of needle deflecting pins, and they are mounted in seven series of pin holes 11 formed in the needle supporting cylinder, one above the other, as indicated in Fig. 2. In line gage machines it will be found desirable to stagger the needle holes in adjoining series, and to arrange the holes in each series to register with alternate needles. The needle deflecting pins are differently distributed in the different series of pin holes, according to the desired effects to be produced in the knit fabric. A separate actuator in the form oi a cam 12 is preferably provided for forcing forward each series of pins as they are carried past the cam by the rotation of the needle cylinder. Means is provided for throwing each actuator cam into or out of action, so that any series of deflector pins, or any combination of different series may be actuated to press forward corresponding series of needles. As shown, the cams 12 are formed on a series of cam levers 18 which are pivotally mounted one above the other in a supporting ring 14 arranged within the needle cylinder. The ring fits within the needle cylinder, and is supported by a series of screws 15, the inner ends of which are arranged to enga 'e a ledge on the cylinder. The cams 12 are formed on the outer sides of the levers 13, and are arranged one above the other, so that they act to force forward the different needle deflecting pins at the same point with relation to the yarn feed ing guide. The cam levers 13 are provided on their rear sides with a series of cam lugs 16 arranged to be engaged by a series of vertically sliding controller rods 17 which are guided in a bracket 18 secured to the base plate of the machine. The lower ends of the controller rods engage the horizontal arms of a series of bell crank levers 19, the vertical arms of which are arranged to be engaged by horizontal rods 20. These rods may be actuated by any suitable pattern mechanism to automatically control. the throwing in and out of the cam levers 1?) during the knitting. The ring 14 is held in position during the rotation of the needle cylinder by the engagement of a lug 21 with one arm of a bell crank lever 22, the other arm of which bears against an adjusting rod 23. The lower end of the rod rests on the head of an adjusting screw at, which is locked in. adjusted position by a lock screw 25.

Assuming that yarns are being fed to the knitting wave while producing plated work, the body yarn being fed through the yarn guide 8, and the plating yarn which normally appears on the outside of the fabric being fed to the needles by the guide 7, and assuming that the yarn guide 7 is arranged as shown in the drawings, that the series of needle deflecting pins corresponding to the cam 12 which is in active position are arranged to force forward every other needle, then the operation will be as follows. The needles which are forced forward are so deflected from their normal position with relation to the yarn guide 7 that the yarn will pass back of these needles and will not therefore be taken and knit by them. The yarn will however be presented in the usual way to the needles which are not pressed forward, and will be knit by them. The body yarn will be fed to all the needles, and will be knit by the needles which were forced forward and did not knit the plating yarn, as well as by the needles which knit the p ating yarn. If the second or body yarn is of a different color from the first or platii yarn, design will be produced in which the body yarn will show on a ground of plated fabric at the points where knit by the needles which are pressed forward and which did not knit the plating yarn. By varying the cam or cams 12, which are in active position, a great variety of fancy fabrics, such as vertical or zigzag stripes, checks, diamonds, etc. may be produced. By changing the yarns at different points in the knitting, a further variation in the designs produced may be effected.

Instead of utilizing a mechanism such a shown and described for producing various s in plated fabrics, a series of needle etors, actuated by a cam or other actuawhich may be thrown into and out of ac tion during the knitting, may be utilized in feeding an extra or supplemental yarn to every other needle, or to a selected series of needles distributed among the needles to which the main yarn is fed, and the extra or su iplemental yarn may be fed to the selected series of needles during one or several successive courses at different points in the fabric.

The mechanism above described may be utilized to press the needles forward out of normal relation to the yarn feeding guide ides 7 to vary the number and distrion of the needles which take yarn and 3 during any course or courses of the ting. and thus the character and appear-- of the stitches formed may be varied to secure various designs of fabric.

ll hilc the invention has been shown and described as embodied in a mechanism for needles outward at the yarn taking will be understood that various feaof the invention are not coniinedin their application to forcing the needles out id for this purpose, but may be utilized r forcing outward series of needles dis- Juted among the entire series of needles for various purposes. It will also be unders ood that although in the application of the izrventicn illustrated the series of actuator cams for the needle deflectors are arranged to deflect each series at the same point, such arrangement is not essential, and may be varied in accordance with the type of machine in which the invention is embodied, and in accordance with the purpose for which it is utilized.

it will also be understood that the invention is not confined in its application to circular machines, or to latch needle machines, but may be utilized with advantage er types of machines, such as dial or to orest-1 forward and control the action of spring needles as Well as latch needles.

What is claimed is l. .A knitting machine, having, in combination, a series of needles, yarn feeding means, a series of needle deflectors for forcing 'lorward the yarn taking ends of an equal. number of needles distributed among the needle series to divide the needles into two sets, one of which is in and the other of which is out of yarn taking relation to the feeding means and means for successively actuating the deflectors.

A. knitting machine, having, in combination, a series of needles, a yarn guide, a series of needle deflectors arranged to act on the backs of a series of needles equal in numher to the number of deflectors and distributed among the needle series, and an actuator or succe. i Q actuating the needle deflectors at the .eeding point to force the yarn taki ends of the corresponding needles tl'orward with relation to the remaining needles of the needle series.

3. A. knittii'ig machine, having, in combination, a yarn feeding guide, a series of independently operated needles, means for forming a knitting wave in the series, a scries of needle deflectors arranged to act on the backs of an equal number of needles dis tributed among the needle series and to force the yarn takinr ends of the corresponding needles forward, and an actuator for successively actuating the needle deflectors at the yarn feeding point.

A knitting machine, having, in combi nation, a yarn feeding means, a needle cylinder, a continuous series of needles carried by the cylinder, a series of radially movable deflectors re 'ried by the needle cylinder within the series of needles and arranged to act on the backs of a series of needles distributed among the needle series, and an acl'uatcr within the series of deflectors for actuating the deflectors at the feeding point.

5. A. knitting machine having, in combination, a series of needles, a series of needle deflectors arranged in permanent alinement with needles in the needle series to act on their backs and deflect them transversely of the series, means for actuating the defledtors arranged to act progressively along the series, and mechanism for rendering said means active or inactive during the contin uance of the knitting.

6. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a series of needles, a series of needle deflectors arranged to act on the backs of needles in the needle series and deflect them transversely of the series, and a cam for ad ranch the deflectors arranged to act proveiy along the series and movable into or out of inactive relation to the deflectors during the continuance of the knitting.

7. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a series of needles, a plurality of series of needle deflectors arranged to act on the backs of equal numbers of needles distributed among the needle series, and means for selectively actuating the different series of deflectors during the knitting to successively press forward the corresponding series of needles.

8. A knitting machine, having, in com bination, a series of needles, a plurality of series of needle deflectors arranged to act on the backs of equal numbers of needles distributed among the needle series, and an actuator for each series of deflectors for successively actuating the corresponding series of deflectors during the knitting.

9. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a series of needles, a plurality of series of needle deflectors arranged to act on equal numbers of needles distributed among the needle series, a series of actuators for the deflectors arranged to actuate each series at the same point, and means for selectively rendering the actuators active and inactive.

10. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a needle support provided with needle grooves, a series of forwardly movable pins in the supportback of and regis tering with the grooves, a cam for successively advancing the pins at a predetermined point, and mechanism for rendering the cam. active or inactive during the knitting.

11. A knitting machine, having, in com bination, a needle support provided with needle grooves, several series of forwardly movable pins in the support back of and registering with diiferent series of grooves distributed among the entire series of grooves and means for selectively actuating the different series of pins.

12. A knitting machine, having, in co1nbination, a needle support provided with needle grooves, several series of forwardly movable pins in the support back of and registering with different series of grooves distributed among the entire series of grooves, and a corresponding series of cams for advancing the dilferent' series of pins.

13. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a needle support provided with needle grooves, several series of forwardly movable pins in the support back of and registerii'ig with ditl'erent series of grooves distributed an'iong the entire series of grooves, a corresponding series o't cams for advancing the different series ot' pins, and means "for rendering the cams selectively active or inactive during the knitting.

ll. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a needle support provided with needle grooves, needles mounted in the grooves, a series oi? needle deflectors mounted in the support back of and in alinement with a corresponding series of needles, means for rogressivcly actuating the deflectors to press forward the corresponding series of needles, and mechanism for rendering said actuating means active or inactive during the continuance of the knitting.

15. Hi. knitting machine having, in combination, a needle support provided with needle grooves, needles mounted in the grooves, a series of needle deflectors mounted in the support back of and in pumanent :ilincnicnt with a corresponeing series oi? needles and distributed among the needle series to divide the needles into two sets, means for progressively actuating the deflectors to fOl'CQ forward the yarn-taking ends of the corresponding series of needles, and mechanism for rendering the actuating means active or inactive during the continuance of the knitting,

16. A knitting machine having, in combination. a series of needles, yarn feeding means, a series of needle deflectors each mounted in permanent alinement with a needle to force forward its yarn taking end and distributed among the needle series to divide the needles into two sets, one of which is in and the other 01 which is out o" yarn taking relation to the feeding means. and means "lor successively actuating the deflectors.

17. A knitting machine having, in combination, a needle support provided with needle grooves, needles mounted in the grooves, a series of needle deflectors each mounted in permanent alinement with a needle to act on its back and press it forward, means for progressively actuating the deflectors, and mechanism for rendering said means active or inactive during the continuance of the knitting.

18. A knitting machine having, in combination, a needle support, a series f needles mounted to reciprocate in the support, means for forming a knitting wave in the needles, varn feeding means, a series of needle deflectors each mounted in permanent alinement with a neeedle to act on its back below the knock-over point and distributed among the needle series to divide the needles into two sets, one of which is in and the other of which out of yarn taking relation to the feeding means, and means for successively actuating the detlectors.

19. A knitting machine having, in combination, a needle support, a series of needles, means for forming a knitting wave in the needles, yarn feeding means, a series of needle deflectors each mounted in perma nent alinementwith a needle to act on its back below the knock-over point and deflect it transversely of the series, means for progressively actuating the deflectors, and mechanism for rendering said means active or inactive during the continuance of the knitting.

MAX C. MILLER. 

